Story of Mythology

1. Storyof Mythology Once there were two sages. The lived in a hermitage located in a forest. They were spending their time always by worshipping vayu, the wind god. One afternoon, as the sages were beginning their meal, a Brahmachari beggar arrived holding his begging bowl. The Brahmachary said to the sages, “pardon me respectful sages, could I beg for a part of your excess meal?” Sorry young man, we cannot give you any food”, said one of the sages.

2. The steady young monk continued, “May I ask you most humbly, which deva (god) do you worship?” “We worship vayu, the wind god.” answered the sages with prade. “He is also known as prana, the breathe of life.” “Ah! Then you must know that prana privates the whole universe” said the young Brahmachari. The sages were getting, “Yes, yes, we know all that young man.” The beggar than asked firmly, “oh honorable sages, could you tell me to whom did you make this food offering?”

3. “Prana, the life, who else?” said the irritating sage. The young monk smiled and retorted, “If life provides the universe, it pervades me too. Am I not a part of that universe?” “Yes, that’s right”, replied the sage, in a puzzled state of mind. It is prana, or life that pulsates in me, as this hungry body of mine stands before you and speak said the beggar. The sages were trapped in the argument and admitted, “You speak the truth.”

4. The beggar then made his final appeal, then “oh revered rishis (sages) in denying me food, you are denying prana for whom you have prepared the food.” The rishis had no answers. They realized that merely the reading of scriptures cannot assure them of the assimilation true understanding. Ashamed at their ignorance the sages gladly share their food with the young Brahmachari.